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Dr. Sophia Chadda: Bernards Township Council Candidate Profile

Get to know Dr. Sophia Chadda. She is one of 3 candidates running for the 1 council seat in a contest Bernards Township election on Nov. 5.

Sophia Chadda Meets With Bernards Township Merchants to Help Revitalize Their Businesses

BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, NJ, October 5, 2019 -- Dr. Sophia Chadda, Candidate for Bernards Township Committee and owner of her periodontal practice in Basking Ridge, visited business owners in the township’s seven primary business districts to learn how she can help grow their businesses and make them more attractive to township residents. Over the course of her campaign and as a 20-plus year Bernards Township resident and business owner, Dr. Chadda has also spoken with neighbors and community members about their desires to support local merchants and shop locally.

Over the past two months, Dr. Chadda spoke with merchants in Dewy Meadow Village, The Hills-Highlands Shopping Center, Marketplace Shopping Center, Riverwalk Shopping Center, Lyons Mall, businesses in Liberty Corner/Church Street and, of course, businesses in the downtown center of Basking Ridge. “I’ve never had a committee member, yet alone a candidate for township committee, ever ask me of my concerns, and am thrilled you [Dr. Chadda] came here and are taking an interest.” said a store owner in the Marketplace Shopping Center who wished to remain anonymous. “The township can help us provide better service to our customers by improving parking, traffic flow, and by ensuring development is well thought out with community members -- store owners and residents alike -- involved in the planning and approval process. The town hasn’t been very transparent in this respect over the past several years,” continued the business owner.

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Bernards Township Democrat calls for ban on vaping products

Dr. Sophia Chadda, the Democratic candidate for Bernards Township Committee, has called for action on the “vaping crisis,’’ saying the use of e-cigarette products is a “health threat facing our citizens and targeting our youth."

“We are in the midst of a health crisis,’’ she said. “Both the Center for Disease Control and the American Lung Association are urging people to stop the use of e-cigarette products immediately. American Medical Association President Dr. Patrice Harris is recommending that anyone who has recently used a vaping product and is showing any respiratory issues should seek medical care.’’

Bernards Township candidates differ on plastic waste issue

As a leader, I am proud to have initiated the discussion about the need to reduce plastic waste in our community. The time to act is now — each of us must strive to be stewards for our environment.

I support the many NJ municipalities that have enacted laws to reduce or eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags, cutlery, and drinking straws. A growing list of communities have banned plastic bags altogether.

The time is now to take action to protect our community and planet. I think Bernards Township – known throughout the state as a great place to live and raise a family – can also be respected as a great steward of our environment. Let’s take a pledge to reduce our demand for plastic and handle the disposal of plastics more responsibly.

I’m often impressed by our neighbors at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, Cava at Bridgewater Commons, and Whole Foods, all of whom have implemented compostable plastics and responsible recycling practices. Verizon Wireless, headquartered right here in Bernards Township, also made a pledge just this year to go carbon-neutral by 2035. Bernards Township should be part of that positive change.
Future generations are counting on us.

                                                                 - Sophia Chadda 

Bernards Township Democrat: 'Stop the epidemic of gun violence'

Sophia Chadda, the Democratic candidate for Township Committee, has urged residents to demand legislators take steps to end the "epidemic'' of gun violence in America.

"Sadly, our nation is besieged by homegrown white nationalist terrorism,'' she wrote in a statement to this newspaper. "These individuals are fueled by online extremism and armed by greedy special interests and a complacent Congress. We shouldn’t have to fear leaving our homes to shop, to worship, or to learn.

"This must stop. Just as we take strong measures to protect ourselves from foreign terrorist threats, we should also take equally strong measures to protect our homeland from homegrown terrorism.''

Chadda said that while campaigning recently, she spoke to a resident who said she would only vote for President Donald Trump “because we are a white Christian nation.”
"First, regardless of one’s political affiliation, gun violence should be abhorred by all and we should demand our legislators do something to stop the epidemic,'' Chadda said.

"Second, America is not a nation of any specific religion; America is comprised of a tapestry of all religious faiths as well as those who choose not to practice any religion at all. We are better for living in harmony with our Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and atheist brothers and sisters and being exposed to the wonderful diversity of cultures. Freedom of religion means freely practicing your religious beliefs, not demanding others to forfeit theirs in favor of yours.

"Third, our country is not a white country, just as it is not a black, brown, green, blue, or purple country,'' she added. "It is a country of a single race: the human race. My heart is with the people of Gilroy, El Paso, Dayton, and all those affected by senseless gun violence. My conscience drives me to do something about it so that nobody’s loved ones are taken from them by mass shootings in the future.

"Expressions of thoughts and prayers are wonderful and very much appreciated, but we now also need to act through legislation and safety education in our community, our state, and at the national level,'' she concluded. "Please join me in helping drive this change.''